***Content warning***

Discussions on self-harm are included within this episode. Please feel free to not engage with if this subject matter is not in alignment with where you are in your journey right now. It’s ok to take care of yourself.

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On this episode of BMU, the guys welcome Dr. Greg Alfred and Dr. Chanté Meadows to the pod for a discussion on Black young people's mental health and how we can actively love them through life's most difficult moments. The episode finds its inspiration in the story of Kyren Lacy.

Kyren Lacy's untimely death in April got us thinking about the potential of one wrong choice to shift the trajectory of someone's entire life, and how difficult it is for someone that young to see past circumstances that seem hopeless. The episode aims to see Kyren as fully human, and to remind us all that even when problems are bigger than we can conceive solutions for, we're still each other's business.

We hope to honor Kyren with our discussion.

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For more on Kyren's story see the following:

ESPN: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44664128/former-lsu-wr-kyren-lacy-died-apparent-suicide-police-chase-authorities-say

The Pivot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD1cXTHzK3Y 

Malik Nabors on 7PM in Brooklyn w/ Carmelo Anthony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGVxiGHKOiw 

Kyren in his element: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C87nOdVPye8/?igsh=MWNobzFjYTE0eWk4eg%3D%3D

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Mental Health Resources:

If you are considering self-harm or are in emotional distress,consider using the National Suicide Lifeline: Dial 988 or 1-800-784-2433.

talkspace.com: Talkspace users have access to licensed therapists through the website or mobile app on iOS and Android.

betterhelp.com: BetterHelp is a mental health platform that provides direct online counseling and therapy services via web or phone text communication.

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Dr. Greg Alfred graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1996, and served in various Army leadership positions until his honorable discharge in 2007. He earned a master’s degree in counseling from Indiana University in 2003, and a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Missouri in 2011. After earning his doctorate, Greg worked as a psychologist at Ohio State University, where he focused on graduate/  professional students, nontraditional students, and military veterans.  His passion for veterans led him to the Columbus VA, where he has served combat and sexual trauma survivors since 2015. Greg has been married for twenty years to his wife, Dr. Dorienna Alfred, also a psychologist. They have two sons, Brandon (17), and Jalen (15). In his free time, Greg likes to cook, watch his sons play lacrosse, spend time with his wife, and listen to jazz music.

Dr. Chanté Meadows, LISW-S, is a licensed clinical social worker, executive coach, and educator with 20+ years of experience in mental health, leadership, and wellness. She is CEO of Meadows Counseling Group and an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. Dr. Meadows specializes in trauma-informed care, burnout prevention, and empowering leaders to lead with purpose, resilience, and authenticity. She is a wife and a mother of 4 boys.